Chapter 8
Riley walked towards the Summers' house. He knocked on the door.
Dawn opened with a smile. "Hi Riley!"
Riley faked a smile and asked her; "Where's Buffy?"
"She out on a date… With you? Wait, a minute. If you're not with her, then… " Dawn seemed very confused.
"She's not here, Riley… I'm sorry, but if you want to, you can come in. It started off with just me and mum, but suddenly the whole gang was here, and now we're having a horror movie marathon.
Riley muttered under his breath. "Doesn't that stupid girl ever shut up?"
Dawn frowned at him. "What did you say?"
Riley just shook his head. "Oh, nothing…"
Tara appeared in the doorway. "I-is there something wrong?" She had felt Riley's anger all the way into the living room.
Riley glared at the blond witch. "No, we're fine." He walked away, leaving the two girls confused.
Dawn followed Tara into the living room. "Who was it?" Xander asked with his mouth full of Doritos.
"It… It was Riley," Tara answered, still very confused. "He wondered if Buffy was here…"
"But I thought she was out with him…?"
Tara nodded, "So did we, but I guess there's something she's not telling us…"
Riley felt the anger pump through his veins as he crossed Buffy's lawn.
'That bitch. Cheating on me now, are we?'
Then his eye caught something glimmering on the wet grass. He picked it up. It was the ring that he'd given to Buffy.
'How dare she…' He couldn't make up the right words to think, his anger making the whole world glow in red. He ran towards his apartment; the ring still clutched in his right hand.
Buffy could feel that Spike looked at her, and strangely, she didn't mind. They had gotten their meals and were now eating dessert. Buffy had avoided the chocolate cake, afraid to find another ring.
Once again, she found great interest in her nails, and she could hear Spike chuckle. "Come on, Buffy. Let's get you home."
Buffy looked up at him, a hint of fear showing in her eyes.
Spike understood the silent question. "Not to him, luv. Not tonight… We'll get you home to Joyce and lil' bit."
Buffy relaxed and smiled at Spike. She wondered why she didn't want to go home to the man that loved her. Her mind answered her. 'Maybe because you're already with him.'
Spike paid the bill, and turned to Buffy. "Didn't knick it, if you thought that…"
Buffy smiled, the thought haven't occurred to her.
"I don't know what to think anymore," she answered quietly, and Spike took her hand.
Riley sat in his apartment, a knife in his hand. This was going to be her last warning.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!" Spike searched his pockets for something, and pulled out a small red box.
Buffy, who sat next to him in the front seat, where they've parked a block away from Buffy's house, looked warily at the red box. "Oh, come on, princess… It's not a ring."
Buffy couldn't help but to wonder why she felt disappointed by that, and she took the box from his outstretched hand.
She smiled at the sight of the necklace. It was a small emerald surrounded by silver strings that were laid out in small patterns.
"Read the back." She obliged and felt her heart beat faster at the inscription.
I love you /William
Three words, that used to scare her so, now felt like they warmed her up from the inside.
Spike got out from his car, and opened her door. "I know it isn't very imaginative, but that's how I feel, Buffy… I love you, with everything that I am.
She sighed and murmured. "It looks just like the ring you…"
"What's that, luv?"
Buffy smiled at him and put her arms around his neck, and rested her head on his flat chest. He slowly returned the embrace, wanting to savour the moment. He looked down on her and was rewarded with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, William." She said and put her hands on his face and leaned in towards him. Their lips met and Spike almost fainted from the sweet taste of her warm lips. Buffy was the one to pull away and looked up at Spike, who still seemed kind of dazed. She smiled at him.
"Goodnight, Spike," she said. And she found it extremely hard to leave, not wanting to let him out of her sight.
"Goodnight, princess," he answered in a husky voice that sent shivers down her spine, good shivers, she noted.
They reluctantly let go of each other and Spike roared away in his Desoto, leaving a smiling Buffy on the sidewalk.
A/N Sorry for the short chapter… I have a lot of ideas, but I just don't know how to put them together… I'll post next chapter asap… It will probably be a bit longer…and angsty-er…And with a jealous, angry, Spike… and possibly Riley… No, now I have to work on the next chappie!
I'VE GOTTEN SO MANY REVIEWS, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ANSWER THEM ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU! You're the light that makes this endless night bearable ;)
/Anna
